Magnetostrictive transducer



Feb. 23, 1954 E. E. TURNER MAGNETOSTRICTIVE TRANSDUCER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 27, 1952 m m u 0 I 2 M =55.55::1-5.555i 9 4 M Feb. 23, 1954 TURNER MAGNETOSTRICTIVE TRANSDUCER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 27, 1952 2 a n 4 3 6 9 m M C M MW 0 L T 2 mm? W w m m w I I/ d M J MZZ/Q Patented Feb. 23, 1954 MAGNETOSTRICTIVE TRANSDUCER Edwin E. Turner, West Roxbury, Mass., assignor to Raytheon Manufacturing Company, Newton, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Application March 27, 1952, Serial No. 278,839

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a magnetostrictive transducer for generating or receiving compressional waves and, more particularly, relates to a tubular magnetostrictive hydrophone for con verting compressional wave energy in a fluid medium into corresponding electrical signals or vice versa.

In the field of underwater signaling or detecting mechanical vibrations transmitted through the water in the form of pressure waves, magnetostrictive hydrophones, that is, transducers adapted for use underwater, have been widely used. Certain types of tubular radially vibrating magnetostrictive transducers include a cylindrical tube made of some magnetostrictive material, such as nickel, and a coil comprising a plurality of turns of wire wound about the wall of the tube substantially lengthwise of the tube in the form of a tore so that each turn lies both inside and outside of the tube wall.

If such a transducer is used as a receiver, the magnetostrictive tube will be subjected all around to variations in pressure owing to the compressional waves of energy striking said tube. The latter will vibrate radially because of the impinging compressional waves. If the tube is polarized circumferentially by a magnetic field, the radial expansion and contraction of the tube results in a change of magnetic flux in the tube and, consequently, an electromotive force is induced in the coil surrounding the tube. This electromotive force is then applied to a suitable detecting means. Conversely, if the transducer is to be used as a radiator of compressional wave energy, the magnetostrictive tube may be made to vibrate radially in response to an alternating more, in order to obtain a reasonably high impedance with a single coil, an excessively large number of turns must be wound about thecore, resulting not only in difliculties in construction, but also in an undesirable increase in size and bulk.

Even if primary and secondary windings are wound on this transducer to thereby increase the impedance, the problem of winding a large number of turns around the long slender core still exists.

In addition, the efi'ectiveness of prior magnetostrictive transducers is reduced because the coupling between the magnetostrictive member and the adjacent coil or coils has not been sufiiciently close to obtain a high degree of flux linkages between the magnetostrictive field and the coil.

The hydrophone according to this invention surmounts the aforesaid difliculties and will now be described. In a first embodiment of the invention, a partially annealed magnetostrictive tube is completely covered by a thin insulated coating. The coated tube is then covered with a thin layer of graphite and copper plated. The insulated coating, graphite layer and copper plate at the ends of the tube are removed, as by filing or by sawing oii" the ends of the tube. A substantially toroidal electrically conducting shell opened around the periphery to form two flanged portions and having. the same mean diameter as the magnetostrictive tube is mounted on each end of the plated tube with flanged portions fastened to the inner and outer copper coating on the plated magnetostrictive tube. A complete single turn is thus obtained comprising the inner copper layer, the curved surface of one toroidal shell,

, the outer copper layer and the surface of the other toroidal shell at the other end of the tube. Because of the proximity of the winding (copper layers) and the magnetic circuit (magnetostrictive tube) the magnetic coupling is very close.

To raise the impedance to the desired value, a Winding of several turns of relatively fine wire is wound about a solid toroidal magnetic core and the entire winding assembly, comprising the said winding and said core, is placed inside the toroidal shell before mounting the latter at the ends of the plated tube. Since the winding assembly is totally enclosed by the conducting shell and the end of the magnetostrictive tube, there is no leakage of flux from the winding. Moreover, since the winding assembly is located in proximity to the single turn secondary formed by the conducting layers and toroidal shell, the coeflicient of coupling between the primary and secondary of the transformer is very large.

The hydrophone, according to this invention, may alternatively be constructed of a first electrically conducting tube, such as copper, having an outside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the insulated magnetostrictive tube and adapted to be inserted inside the latter, and a second copper tube whose inside diameter is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the insulated magnetostrictive tube and adapted to silde over the latter. With proper diameter tubes, a tight fit between the tubes may be ob- 3 tained and the assembly held together by friction, or the assembly may be held together by insulated bolts located at convenient intervals. The hydrophone may be supported in any desired manner which will not unduly interfere with the vibratory movement of the magnetostrictive core.

Finally, the entire arrangement previously describedmaylbe. mounted inaa .case, s'uch as .a rubber tube, and cempletelyfilled'with 'oil in order to equalize the pressure.

By means of this invention, therefore, a much more eflicient, compact and ineggpensivehydro; phone is obtained.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a broken centrallongitudinal 'cross- Fig. 2 is a view showing in detail the cross s ection of the compound tubular portion of the transducer of Fig. 1;

Fig- 3' is a. detailed; illustration: ofsa ".portienixof the toroidal windhigsassembly usedsjn the: trans-v ducer shown in Fig. 1;

,Fig. :4 is a fragmentary];crossesectienal view of a. second-form: of :ther. magnetostrictive;transducer;

Fig. 5 is 'a broken;crossesectional yiewrof the third. form one magnetostrictive. tran'ducer; :.and

Fig. '6;is.7a sectional aview through the transducer of...Fig.;'5 taken along; line i 5-1.5.

Referring 1170 Fig. 1, the :rnagnetostrictive transducer. or vhydrophone: I Il comprises a cylindrical tubularelementill ;constru'cted or" any suitable magnetostrictive. material such as: annealed nickel. The -length anddiameter of a nickelv tube may bev of. the'nrder- 'ofthree feet and two :inches, respectively, although "the values given are merely illustrative. The radi-us-ofthe tuzbe may be substantially equal to the wave length of thecompressional"wave-energyfin the mediumgsuch as sea water, into which the transducer is:to be placed. 'Thenickeltube is en tirely .covered with az relatively "thin coating of insulation I2. This coatingmay be applied by painting or spraying the tube with shellac or some other substance which is an electrical-insulator and capable of beir rgapplied in a thin layer to-said tube. The 'oX-idizedsurface 'o f the nickel oran anodizingfinish'mayalso be usd as an insu-late'd ocating. The coatedtube I I I2 is next-covered with a thin'la-yer-of graphite' fi shown in Fig. =2. The graphite coating isomitted from Fig. 1 in-order nqt'topndul-y complicate the essential structure "or the device. The graphite covered tube I I, "I2 'I3 is plated -bydnserti-ng it in a solution of cupric sulphateinto which a-copperanode is' placed. By' connecting the positive terminal-0f *asource or a direct current energy to" the ano'dea nd the negativetermif nal tosaid coated-nickel'tube, the latter-maybe plated to any desired thickness F4 or I4. The complete tube, including the insulation graphite and copper platingyis' designated in Figs. hand? by thereference numeral t5.

'Thecoatings of insulation,graphite and cop: perplate, at theen'dso f the tubefareremovedby filingpgrin'ding or bysawing ofhthe endspf 'the tube. "The completetube an end surface as shown in 'Figf-2 in' whichan inner conducting layer I4 and an outer conducting layerM are insulated from oneanother'by the insulation I2.

-A J toroidal shell I6, "formed "of any electrical conducting material such as *copper, isprovifded with flanged portions I g and-'26." -A- winding 'asother electrically insulating material.

-"de'sired value;=less than the internal diameter of m fiali' h 5 "Referring'againto Fig. 1, coil I8 terminates in ya; pai gof leadsl 22 -.and 23. A small circular opening 2Iis provided in shell 93 to permit coil leads M and fi to be brought out. The flanged portions I9 and 20 of toroidal shell IB are brazed, soldered-:orcotherwiser: fastened to :the-innemand outerzcoppenplated layers [land I 4'; respectively.

:A.second'toroidalzzshell..t6 is mounted at the other rend :of said transducer with the flanged portions t9 and i'flcbeing .fastened itO-tlle. inner and-outer copper platedlayersfl l and I lrespectively, as shown in Fig. 1.

Although a-zsingle coil I 8: atleither end of the tube. may be. suincient, better coupling 'to the time may be obtained by'. using" a-coil at eachen"d,'=as showrrin Fig. i. A second-windingassembly similar to 'the first 1 andbomprising-acore -I"'I-' carrying a coil 5 8" i may -ber mounted within the hollow space. enclosed by toroidal-shell I6'.- A small circular opening? I-' serves 5 to bring -out coil leads 22'-and i2 3. 'The twmcoils -IE and I=8-'- are connected in series leading-to an: external-circuit by connecting together -leads zii a-nd "23'; the free ends of leads-22 and 22 are brought at one end of the transducer an'd are adapted to beconnected either to fa source of alternating current energy: or to' a' suitable receiving apparatus, depending on whether the transducer is *toact as a: receiver or atransmitter.

To polarize "the" transducer tube it" is initially magnetized-by placing -aheavywv-in'ding around the completed 'transducer andpassing aheavy currentimpulse to said -winding-iromaconventional' condenser discharging network-. This polarizingwhrding is removed before the-trans? ducer isused; once the transducer tube is ag. netized, -the= remanencebi thetube is relied' upon to provide the 'necessary' polarization or 'bias; By:utilizing"the remanence off the magnetostric tive tube the need for heavy and 'bulky perms. nent'bia's-in'gmagnetsanda directcurrentbia rig power supply in the] transducer reqni'pmen is eliminated."

Referring; now tofFfig.f 4, a;-modiflcation 'oijl'the tubular 1 ma'gnetosti ictivetransducerjof, Fig; 1 shown. Instead "of -cqpper platingfthe coated magnetostrictive tube, a first' electrically conducti-ng"tube' 34;-preferablymade'oi copper, and having -an :outer 'diameter slightly smaller 115119 11 the inner diameterof' the' 'coated magnetostric tive tube I If" I2 is 'insertdw i'thin the flatter. second copper i tube 3'4ffhaving' anflinnerfdiame ter "slightly larger than the '-outer'"diameter ;oi. said coated magnetostrictive tube is slipped over the outside "of thelatter. l 'lan'ge'cl portionsI9 and 20 of-a' toroidal electrically conducting-"shell I B= are soldered: or otherwise connected along the top' edges' of copper tu-bes-M and' u, respectively, as shown in Fig. 5. Oil (not shown) mayf'be placed in the inter'stices between "said *coated tubes ll, l2 and the copper tube, if desired, in order to equalize the pressure on the transducer tube. A winding assembly may be inserted in the space within shell I6, just as in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 5 and 6, a third modification of a magnetostrictive transducer is shown. A transducer 10, such as shown in either Figs. 1 or 4, is mounted within case 4!! which is constructed of a material, such as rubber, which has substantially the same characteristics for transmission of compressional wave energy (that is the same density and acoustical impedance) as sea water or other medium in which the transducer is to be placed. A- pair of spiders 4| and M'serves to mount the transducer body ID within said case. The invention, however, is not to be limited to the specific mounting structure shown in Figs. 5 and 6 since other means of mounting the transducer body within the case may be used.

The upper end of the case may be sealed by means of a discoidal end cap 42, which may be made of any suitable metal. A clamp 43 is used to hold the end cap firmly against the top of rubber case 40. If desired, the tubular rubber case may be open at both ends and the end closures in the form of clamp end caps may be used at both the top and bottom ends of the case. Other types of end closures may, of course, be used. A hollow coupling 45 is inserted in end plate 42 through which the coil leads may be brought out. The interior of the case not occupied in the transducer body It! and spiders 4! and 4] may be filled with oil for equalization of pressure.

This invention is not limited to the particular details of construction, materials and processes described, as many equivalents will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. It is accordingly desired that the appended claims be given scope of the invention within the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A magnetostrictive transducer comprising a tubular magnetostrictive element whose inner and outer surfaces are covered with a thin coating of insulation, first and second cylindrical electrically conductive layers covering said inner and outer coated surfaces, respectively, of said element, an electrically conductive member mounted one at each end of said element, each of said conductive members connecting together said first and second conductive layers at the corresponding end to form a single conductive turn surrounding said magnetostrictive element and closely spaced therefrom, and a toroidally wound coil positioned within each of said conductive members, said coils being connected in series aiding.

2. A magnetostrictive transducer comprising a tubular magnetostrictive element whose inner and outer surfaces are covered with a thin coating of insulation, first and second cylindrical electrically conductive layers covering said inner and outer coated surfaces, respectively, of said element, a split toroidal electrically conductive shell having inner and outer flanged portions and mounted one at each end of said element, said inner and outer flanged portions of said shell being connected to said inner and outer conductive layers, respectively, to form a single conductive turn surrounding said magnetostrictive element and closely spaced therefrom, and a toroidally wound coil positioned within each of coils being connected netostrictive element mounted within said cas ing, said element having its inner and outer surfaces covered with a thin coating of insulation,

first and second cylindrical electrically conductive layers covering said inner and outer coated surfaces, respectively, of said element, a hollow electrically conductive member mounted one at each end of said element, and each adapted to connect together said first and second conductive layers at the corresponding end to form a single conductive turn surrounding said magnetostrictive element and closely spaced therefrom, and a toroidally wound coil positioned within each of said conductive members, said coils being connected in series aiding.

4. A magnetostrictive transducer comprising a closed tubular casing made of a material having a density and compressional wave impedance substantially equal to that of the medium in which said transducer is placed, a tubular magnetostrictive element mounted within said casing, said element having its inner and outer surfaces covered with a thin coating of insulation, first and second cylindrical electrically conduc tive layers covering the said inner and outer coated surfaces, respectively, of said element, a split toroidal electrically conductive shell having inner and outer flanged portions and mounted one at each end of said element, said inner and outer flanged portions of said shell being connected to said first and second conductive layers, respectively, at the corresponding end,

a broad interpretation commensurate with the Said Shells and Said conductive layers combining to form a single conductive turn surrounding said magnetostrictive element and closely spaced therefrom, and a toroidally wound coil positioned within each of said toroidal shells, said coils being connected in series aiding.

5. A magnetostrictive transducer comprising a tubular magnetostrictive element whose inner and outer surfaces are covered with a thin coating of insulation, first and second cylindrical electrically conductive layers covering said inner and outer coated surfaces, respectively, of said element, an electrically conductive member mounted one at each end of said element, each of said conductive members connecting together said first and second conductive layers at the corresponding end to form a single conductive turn surrounding said magnetostrictive element and closely spaced therefrom, and a toroidally wound coil positioned within each of said conducting members and in close coupling relationship with said conductive turn, said coils being connected in series aiding.

6. A magnetostrictive transducer comprising a tubular magnetostrictive element whose inner and outer surfaces are covered with a thin coating of insulation, first and second cylindrical electrically conductive layers covering said inner and outer coated surfaces, respectively, of said element, an electrically conductive member mounted one at each end of said element, each of said conductive members connecting together said first and second conductive layers at the corresponding end to form a single conductive turn surrounding said magnetostrictive element and closely spaced therefrom, and a coil post.-

tinnedwithin: one; of; said conductive members and in close couplin relationship witmsaid con (motive-turn;

73 Axmagnetostxietive. transducer comprisingca tubular casing made. or amaterial :havingr-a density and compressional. wave impedance substantially equal to thatofithe medimniin which,=said transducer 1 isc-placed and. containing a pressure equalizing, liquid, .artubulari magnetostrictiige. element; mounted witriin said casing, said element havhrrg.itsv innera and outer: surfaeescovered with aha-thinv coating. of insulation, firstandfsecond pylindrical electrically conductive layers. coverin saidrinner and outencoatedsurfaees, respectiilely, of said-element, arhollow electricallyl'conductivennremberimounted one at. each-send of said element and each adapted to. connect togethersaid first ,7 and second; conductiverlayers. Lat the corresponding; vend. the formulas single "conductive tum. surrounding said; magnetostrictive velencient and; closely spaced therefrom andma GOi1 pQSitioned within one of saidwconductive members andinclose coupling relationship with said'com ductivelturn.

. 8...Amagnetostriutie transducer comprising .a tubu1a-r..casing.made ofla materiallhav-inga densityand compressionaliwave impedance substantialiy equaLto. that of the, medium .in which; said transducer is,p1aced and containinea pressure equalizing 'liquid, ,a tubiular magnetostrictive element mounted-withimsaid casing. said element having itsninnerrand outer surfacesv covered with. a. jthin coating rofins'ula'tion, first and.v second'eylindricali electrically conductive layers covering. said innerandxouter. coated surfaces, respectively, ofiisaid'el'ement; a, hiollowjelectricaily conductivemember mountedone at each end of said element and each ada-Dtedito connect. together saidffirst and-second conductive layers atJ-the" corresponding. end to form a single, conduc'tive turn surrounding. said magnetostrictive element andclosely; spaced therefrom, and electromagnetic coupling" means positioned" within said eoridudtivemembers and'.in iciosecoupling relationship with saidiconductive turn.

9. A magnetostri'ctive' transducercom'prising a tubuiar casingimade of a material having. a density 'and'compressional wave impedance substantiaily .equ'al' tothat bf the medium in which said transducer placed and containing aj'pressure=- e l zinarliqui ar tubular masn tostr qt yeel ment=.mounted withinzsai casingwsaid element. in itsqinnerwand outerrsurfacesrc v re with a thin-coating; of,insulatiomm'strandw-sefitlnd cy= lindricai electrically: conductive layers .QQYBIIiD aid innerandrouter coated suriage ,re eg tivelyrefesaidseiernent,a split. toroidal el etric y conductivevshell having inner and outemi' ged nortions and mounted: onemateeaeh end-of; delement, said; inner and outer, flanged, portions of said shell be n eonnectedlt said -first--.an sesondgconductive lay rs, .rlespec vely; to, florma singiewconductivev turnesurreun'dingzs id means tost ictive elementandclese y spaced-therefrom, and electroma netic coupling. means positioned within. each ,of',saidr toroidal"; shells and. close cou l n relationship; with said on uct ve 11mv41D. Ar rmagnetostrictiy tra s cer .cqmp sins a tubular casing made ofga materialmhaviilgaa density. and compressionalwave impedance substantiallyi. equal to that ,rof, the medium in said transduceizis placed and. eenta ningea pre sura-egualizing liquid, a rtubular niagnetpstrictire element. mounted within, said asing aid element having. its'cinner and oute sur a es covered, with ,a thin coating of insulati n firstman second .cylm rieal electrically.- om nati e: la s covering said inner ,..and 1. outer. coated, surfaces, respectively ois'aid element, asplit Ztoroidalelc l y' c nductive shellihayinssilmer-and out r ms i ortions and meun ednne ateach end of d m n aid inneriand outer fian edne trans of sa d s ell he nacnnnee ed tdsaid. firs and seccnd conductive" layers; respectiye lx 1:0 iorm ,a single condu tiv tur si rmuns linasa magnetostrictive element and psely' spaced th refr m, a nr a'l ma ne i Q0113, Wanda .QQil Wound about said core, said coil andcoreb'eing positioned within each of said toroidal, shells and in closecoupling relationship withflsaid cqnducti-ve turn; said; coils-being connected in series aiding.

EDWINEFT'ETRNER.

Referenees Gited in the me of this patent 1 UNITED" STATES Number 2A7 2 .38.8= 

